Chicago firefighter dies on duty, apparently of natural causes

A Chicago Fire Department lieutenant died today, apparently of natural causes, while he was on duty at a firehouse on the Near West Side, officials said.

Patrick Hannon, 51, was found unresponsive in a firehouse near the 2500 block of South Throop Street, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Hannon, who was assigned to Truck 8, was given life support at the station and was later taken to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center where he died, according to Larry Langford, a fire department spokesman. He was pronounced dead at 7:24 a.m., officials said.

Hannon joined the department in December of 1988.

Among his survivors is his wife Michelle, who is a Chicago Fire Department paramedic, and two children.

Commissioner Robert Hoff and the department expressed "sorrow at this loss of one of our own."

"As always in time of sorrow, we offer our support and prayers to members of the Hannon family," officials said in a statement.

An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday.

On Dec. 22, Chicago firefighters Corey Ankum and Edward Stringer were killed while battling a fire on the South Side.